Gas safety checks must still go ahead
Mary-Anne Bowring 09/04/2020
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1. COVID-19 is No Excuse to Ignore Gas Safety, Says HSE
Yesterday, we discussed EPCs. Today, we’re updating you on the importance of gas safety checks during the COVID-19 outbreak.
2. HSE Stands Firm on Gas Safety Checks
The HSE is under pressure to extend gas safety certificates from 12-18 months to reduce the number of engineers visiting people’s homes and prevent the further spread of Coronavirus. However, despite lobbying from the gas industry, the Government has yet to grant an extension. This week, the HSE reiterated that gas safety checks must still be carried out to protect tenants' safety, especially with many people spending all their time at home.
3. Previous and New Guidance from the HSE
Previous guidance from the HSE said that landlords must show they have taken “reasonable steps” to attempt to gain access to a property when access has been denied due to tenants self-isolating. Now, the HSE, via the Gas Safe Register, has published guidance showing what these “reasonable steps” look like across different scenarios.
4. Scenarios and Guidance
Tenant and family are socially distancing – they have no symptoms but deny access:
Landlords must show they have taken reasonable steps, including leaving a notice for the tenant explaining that an attempt was made and writing to the tenant that it is a legal requirement. Keep a record of all communication.
Tenant’s household is in isolation or has a vulnerable person but has contacted regarding a gas emergency:
Landlords should ask about the emergency and advise tenants to switch off appliances until an engineer arrives. The engineer must adhere to government guidance on working in people’s homes.
Gas safety check due but no available engineers due to staff shortages:
If the usual gas engineer is unavailable, landlords should contact an alternative registered gas engineer to secure their services.
Gas safety check expires in two months, but there may be difficulties engaging an engineer or dealing with self-isolating tenants:
Landlords are encouraged to arrange gas safety checks early, and the two-month period should provide adequate resilience in most situations.
5. Case-by-Case Assessment for Landlords
Each property should be considered on a case-by-case basis. When gas engineers are unavailable, landlords must take reasonable steps to secure alternative services. Prioritisation should be based on the age of appliances, previous work carried out, breakdown history, presence of carbon monoxide alarms, and tenant vulnerability.
6. PlanetRent App to Keep You Compliant
Our PlanetRent app reminds landlords when gas safety and other statutory checks are due. PlanetRent is fully automated – you can track compliance effortlessly, keeping all your records in one place. Why not take a look today? Sign up now – it’s free!
Planetrent Properties
info@planetrent.co.uk
0208 0599 550 (for sales)
Under Offer: This term applies to a property where the landlord is considering an offer but remains on the market. It implies that further offers may still be considered until the landlord formally accepts or declines the current offer.
Let Agreed: This term indicates that a landlord has provisionally agreed to enter into a rental agreement with a prospective tenant, pending additional checks and referencing. It doesn't require the prospective tenant to have paid a holding deposit.
Let: This term signifies an established binding rental agreement between the landlord and tenant.
For both lettings and sales, the guidance addresses additional terms:
New On The Market: This term is used for a property not advertised since its last sale or rental. It should only be used for a brief period.
New Instruction: It applies to a property assigned to an agent for marketing recently, even if it was previously listed with another agent without being sold or rented.
New and Exclusive: This term refers to a property that is either new on the market or a new instruction, exclusively available through a specific agent or portal.
New Method of Sale/Let: This term is used when a property is being marketed for sale or rent using an alternative approach to the original advertisement, such as transitioning to an auction or sealed bid.
Reduced: This term indicates that a property's price has recently been reduced. The reduction should be genuine and comply with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute's guidelines on pricing practices.